Morning Devotional 022724 Take the Next Step!

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  February 27, 2024

James 1:2-12

2 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. 3 After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. 5 But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask. 6 Whoever asks shouldn’t hesitate. They should ask in faith, without doubting. Whoever doubts is like the surf of the sea, tossed and turned by the wind. 7 People like that should never imagine that they will receive anything from the Lord. 8 They are double-minded, and unstable in all their ways. 9 Brothers and sisters who are poor should find satisfaction in their high status. 10 Those who are wealthy should find satisfaction in their low status because they will die off like wildflowers. 11 The sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass so that its flowers fall and its beauty is lost. Just like that, in the midst of their daily lives, the wealthy will waste away. 12 Those who stand firm during testing are blessed. They are tried and true. They will receive the life God has promised to those who love him as their reward.

Good Morning! Oh, the Lord’s been good to me, and so I thank the Lord!

2 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests 

you encounter as occasions for joy. 

What a perfect starting point for today! I usually think of the tests or challenges I face as an opportunity for growth, but I’m not sure that I consider them as occasions for joy. At the end of the challenge, if I come out victorious, then it is joyful, but when I fail, I can’t say that joy is at the top of my emotions.

Many of you know that I’m a classic overachiever, especially when it comes to educational goals. Lowell used to call me Hermione which means I would be the one student who would be disappointed when a test was canceled because I would have already studied. At 66 years old, I still strive to do my best when it comes to those opportunities. 

How do we learn to change our mindset to one of joy when facing challenges, especially when we fail? Thomas Edison is the classic example used by many teachers as someone who celebrated all the ways that he had eliminated on his road to success. 

If we change our mindset to that of celebrating the small steps along the way. Maybe this time we make it 4 steps before we fail, then 8 steps, and this continues until we overcome the challenge. Those who stop after the first failure are stuck and unable to move forward. 

Our journey to eternal life is full of twists, turns, rocks, and even quicksand. We are called to step out in faith and conquer the next tiny step along our way. God sees our devotion and guides us forward. When we fail, God is there to take our hand in support.

Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. When we think that we can’t go on, you are by our side to encourage us. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Embrace your suffering, God is with us!

Struggling helps us grow strong! Pastor Liz